Abner Mares will move up in weight after failing to get matched with Nonito Donaire

Abner Mares will step up to featherweight after failing to get a unification fight with fellow champion Nonito Donaire.

Last Updated: 31/01/13 9:33pm

Abner Mares: Not hanging around at super-bantamweight for Donaire

Ultimately, boxing politics has once again prevailed as Mares' promoter Golden Boy failed to lure WBO and WBC 'Diamond' titlist Donaire and rivals Top Rank with a reported offer of $3m.

That left regular WBC belt holder Mares facing a mandatory defence against Victor Terrazas, but with that fight unlikely to garner much attention the American-based Mexican will vacate ahead of purse bids due on Friday.

Mares is already a two-weight champion with only a draw in 2010 against Yonnhy Perez marring an otherwise perfect record.

He is likely to return in April for a tune-up fight ahead of a proposed world title bout later in the year.

"There needs to be a reason to stay at 122lb," he told ESPN.com. "I don't make 122 easily, so I have the chance to move up to 126.

"I have accomplished a lot already, so I said let's give this a try and conquer another weight class."